| In addition to seven pieces of cannon which
had been abandoned by the captain of the train at the commencement of the action, Hawley
left behind him all his baggage, and a large quantity of military stores. Owing to the
rain, very few of his tents, to which he had set fire, were consumed. Besides the
materičl of the royal army, several standards and stands of colours fell into the hands
of the victors. According to the official returns, the loss of the English, in killed,
wounded, and missing, was 280, including a considerable number of officers; but these
returns are supposed to be greatly underrated. There were sixteen officers killed on the
government side, viz, Colonel Sir Robert Munro of Foulis; Lieutenant-colonel Whitney of
Ligonier's regiment of dragoons; Lieutenant-colonel Biggar of Munro's regiment;
Lieutenant-colonel Powell of Cholmondeley's regiment; five captains and one lieutenant of
Wolfe's; and four captains and two lieutenants of Blakeney's regiment. Sir Robert's
regiment, which consisted chiefly of his own clan, had particularly distinguished itself
at the battle of Fontenoy; but on the present occasion it partook of the panic which had
seized the other regiments on the left, and fled, leaving its colonel alone and
unprotected. In this situation Sir Robert was
attacked by six men of Lochiel's regiments, and, for some time gallantly defended himself
with his half-pike. He killed two of his assailants, and would probably have despatched
more, had not a seventh come up and shot him in the groin with a pistol. On falling, the
Highlander struck him two blows across the face with his broadsword, which killed him on
the spot. Dr. Munro of Obsdale, his brother, who, from fraternal affection, had attended
Sir Robert to the field to afford him any medical assistance he might require, was
standing close by his brother when he fell, and shared his fate at the hands of the same
Highlander, who, after firing a pistol into his breast, cut him down with his claymore.
The bodies of the two brothers having been recognised the next day, were honourably
interred in one grave in the churchyard of Falkirk in presence of all the chiefs. |
